MMG nerve detection may reduce spinal injury riskRSS Feed

A new electronic technique has been developed to reduce the risk of spinal injury during surgery.

Mechanomyography (MMG) systems help surgeons to locate and avoid nerves during spinal procedures, according to a recent study by scientists at the Henry Ford Hospital.

The technique works by measuring the mechanical response of muscle following nerve stimulation, compared to traditional methods which measure electrical response.

Orthopedic spine surgeon Stephen Bartol explained: "We found MMG to be extremely effective for detecting the presence of nerves during minimally-invasive surgical procedures when the nerves could not be directly visualised."

Researchers suggested that there is the potential for electrical interference in standard procedural nerve detection techniques, whereas MMG has a faster response and higher sensitivity for nerve detection.

The importance of avoiding spinal injury was recently underlined in a recent study by researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Findings suggested that antibodies released in spinal fluid following injury could worsen and extend spinal cord damage for patients.

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